Haiwaan Movie Review: Priyadarshan brings together Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan in this Hindi adaptation of his 2016 Malayalam film Oppam. The film revolves around the age-old conflict between Haiwaan and Insaan, or monster versus human, but its uneven execution prevents the story from making the desired impact.
Saif Ali Khan plays Shyam, a visually impaired man, while Akshay Kumar portrays Parshuram, a murderous antagonist. The film largely follows the original’s storyline, but its frequent shifts between thriller, drama, action and comedy create an inconsistent viewing experience.
⭐ Rating: 2/5
A familiar Priyadarshan mix of genres
Priyadarshan’s films often combine multiple genres, with serious situations punctuated by broad humour. Haiwaan follows the same formula.
The first half focuses on establishing the central premise: an innocent man is imprisoned for a crime he did not commit. The second half gradually transforms into a police procedural, with several comic moments that appear unintentionally funny rather than deliberately humorous.
The tonal changes make it difficult for the film to settle into a consistent mood.
Saif Ali Khan gets the bigger role
Saif’s Shyam has considerably more to do than Akshay’s Parshuram. Despite being blind, Shyam is presented as a remarkably capable character.
He can play several musical instruments, including the guitar, violin and piano. His familiarity with his surroundings, heightened sense of smell and ability to navigate using his cane make him an unlikely but important witness to a murder.
However, some of his action sequences require a considerable suspension of disbelief.
The action stretches credibility
One of the film’s major problems is the treatment of Shyam’s physical abilities.
At one point, four physically imposing policemen attack a man who has already been tied up and brutally beaten. Yet Shyam manages to overpower them inside a confined room.
Bollywood audiences are accustomed to larger-than-life action, but the sequence pushes that suspension of disbelief too far.
Neither Akshay’s murderous Parshuram nor Saif’s Shyam ultimately feels completely convincing.
Boman Irani provides some stability
Boman Irani, playing a guilt-ridden judge, gets one of the more effective portions of the first half.
The judge carries a secret that has been troubling him, and Shyam becomes aware of it. As the building’s supervisor, Shyam knows practically every corner of the property, making him an unusual witness to the murder at the centre of the story.
Boman brings the required emotional weight to these portions.
Too many subplots
The film introduces several supporting characters and parallel storylines.
Shriya Pilgaonkar plays a domestic worker dealing with an abusive husband and a brother who is in hiding. Her character also develops an unexpected equation with Shyam.
The film further adds:
- Sharib Hashmi as a policeman who is quick with his fists
- Rajpal Yadav as an almost constantly present autorickshaw driver
- Saiyami Kher as a smart police officer whose investigative abilities aren’t fully utilised
- Suchitra Pillai as a stern nun running a boarding school
The problem is that these disparate elements don’t always blend naturally into the central story.
Akshay and Saif reunion fails to deliver
The film was expected to benefit from the reunion of Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan, who have previously shared the screen in several films.
However, the review finds neither actor completely convincing in these roles. Saif gets the more substantial character, while Akshay spends much of the film lurking in the background as the killer.
Their pairing generates nostalgia, but the film doesn’t extract enough from their reunion.
Final Verdict: More ‘Uff’ than ‘Ole Ole’
Priyadarshan is known for bringing seemingly unrelated characters and storylines together in a chaotic but entertaining climax. When that formula works, it can create hugely enjoyable cinema.
Unfortunately, Haiwaan doesn’t quite reach that level.
The film’s mixture of thriller, action, drama, comedy and police procedural feels uneven, while several scenes demand too much suspension of disbelief.
Verdict: Haiwaan is more miss than hit — and more “uff uff” than “ole ole”.
🎭 Haiwaan Movie Cast
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Lead Actors | Akshay Kumar, Saif Ali Khan |
| Supporting Cast | Boman Irani, Shriya Pilgaonkar, Saiyami Kher, Rajpal Yadav, Sharib Hashmi, Rajesh Sharma, Manoj Joshi |
| Director | Priyadarshan |
| Original Film | Oppam (2016 Malayalam) |
| Genre Mix | Thriller, Action, Drama, Comedy |
| Review Rating | ⭐⭐ 2/5 |
